To that end, here’s a quick rundown of some of a few of the things going on. There are of course many more, which we’ll get to as they get even closer. Bu the No. 1 rule of the Holiday Chute is simple: Don’t get ahead of yourself. There’s plenty to do without realizing that everything is coming up fast, and OH NO! I HAVEN’T ORDERED THAT…

Focusing on Heights-area businesses, the Houston Heights Association will hold its November general meeting at the Fire Station, 107 West 12th at Yale, 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11. Business members of the association will be on hand to showcase their services and wares, which, considering the mini-freakout I just had above, might be good to know. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Also, board election results will be announced.

Also, the HHA’s Education Committee will once again this season be sponsoring its Holiday Story Contest. Entries are welcome from Heights-area writers and storytellers ages 4th grade to adult. All you have to do is write a holiday-themed story and submit it for a chance to win cash and share your story at a special reading.

The story can be either fiction or nonfiction, and can be no more than four double-spaced pages and must be submitted for judging by Monday, Nov. 25. The first-prize winner will receive $75 and will read his or her story at the HHA General Meeting Dec. 9. Second- and third-place prizes will also be awarded.

The Houston Heights Woman’s Club, 1836 Harvard, will host a holiday sale Saturday, Nov. 9 from 8 a.m. to noon. The Woman’s Club building is a state historical landmark and has been in existence for over 100 years, donated for this purpose by Mrs. D.D. Cooley, the wife of one of hte Heights’ original founders.

The vendors of the sale are members, antique dealers and a representative from Stella & Dot, an upscale jewelry company selling items inspired by the founder’s grandmothers, Stella and Dot.

The Heights Holiday Home Tour is four weeks away, and tickets have begun to be sold for that. This used to be the spring home tour’s ambitious little sibling, but has grown into a ‘do all of its own. Combined with Holiday in the Heights shopping event, the December version of White Linen Night, well over 10,000 people are expected to head this way the first weekend of December, probably many more.

Five homes will be on tour, and the weekend will actually begin with live music and a fundraiser for the HHA on Thursday night. For more details, and to buy tour tickets, click here.

Opera in the Heights will stage “Don Pasquale” this month.

Tickets are now on sale for the second production in Opera in the Heights‘ 2013-14 season, “Don Pasquale” by Gaetano Donizetti, which will be performed at Lambert Hall, 1703 Heights Boulevard, Nov. 15-17 and 21-24.

If you’ve never seen this opera, or even if you have, you’re in for a treat. The story follows the tale of elder bachelor Don Pasquale, who wants to marry and provide himself with an heir in order to punish his nephew, and current heir, Ernesto, who wants to marry someone of his own choosing, the widow Norina.

Hijinks, as they say, ensue. As does some of Donizetti’s most beautiful music, including a trumpet solo at the beginning of Act II that is not to be missed. Though of course, it’s the singers who have center stage once again. And Opera in the Heights’ intimate setting at Lambert Hall gives the young performers the company recruits a chance to really impress.